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Board approves annual vendor license fees; trustees agree to delay enforcement until 2026
Summary
The Village of Fredonia approved a $100 annual vendor license fee to take effect April 1, 2026, exempting vendors participating in organized events. Business owners and a written letter from Larry Fiorella prompted debate over timing and enforcement; trustees voted to implement the fee starting in 2026 to give vendors time to prepare.
The Village of Fredonia board voted June 9 to set an annual vendor license fee of $100, to take effect April 1, 2026, while waiving fees for vendors who participate in organized events such as the farmers market and village festivals.
Trustees debated whether to make the fee effective immediately or delay implementation for a year. Larry Fiorella submitted a letter arguing that an annual fee would be "counterproductive to attracting commerce and activities" and urged delaying implementation because vendors plan events mid‑year; the board read the letter into the record.
Mayor Mike Ferguson and several trustees clarified the village intended to exempt vendors participating in organized festivals from the $100 annual fee. "There are food and beverage vendors at the farm festival that pay $400," a trustee noted to correct an inaccuracy in Fiorella's letter about festival charges, adding that the proposed annual fee is targeted at independent vendors outside organized events.
Chuck, the village code enforcement officer, told trustees enforcement would not be immediate and that staff would continue operating under current practice for the remainder of the year. "So you're just gonna operate as you've always been operating for the rest of this year until the 2026 applications start rolling in," he said.
Trustees voted to approve the vendor fees as drafted, with the effective date set for April 1, 2026. Board members and staff said they would prepare clarified application materials and an internal spreadsheet listing the fees, exemptions and enforcement dates to ensure consistent implementation.
The trustees also discussed operational questions—whether food trucks use park power, insurance and commissary rules, and whether the village or event organizers pay for portable restrooms—so the implementation plan will include guidance for those details.
Officials said they will notify vendors and update web and application materials before the 2026 enforcement date to reduce confusion.
